Michael Leonard's Scaffolding Paintings

I love Michael Leonard's late 70s early 80s scaffolding paintings. His paintings capture a moment in time when everyone looked like a porn star. 

 

Fleetwood Mac Remixed

Stevie by IamDavidj available as prints, iphone cases, and more at Society6

I love Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, and Lindsay Buckingham. When I was a kid, my family would go on summer vacations to the beach. I would always listen to my Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits CD in my discman. Now whenever I hear Gypsy, or Dreams I recall memories of the summer and fun at the beach. I always want to hear Fleetwood Mac whenever it starts to get warm out. Unfortunately, the weather has been resisting the nearing spring, but that has not stopped me from enjoying my summer tunes.

Additionally, with the 35th anniversary of the Rumours album and Fleetwood Mac's tour (I'll be catching them in Newark on April 24!) I don't want to hear anything else! With that all said, several artist have remixed numerous Fleetwood Mac tracks. So know you can get a fresh listen to those amazing classics. Continue reading to listen to some of my favorites, many are available to download for free!

BYOB

Here's another great teaser video from JOHN for BYOB. BYOB or Bring Your Own Beamer is a single night event where artists bring projectors to exhibit their work that deals with projected light and the tangible. The event is Thursday February 28th from 6pm to 8pm at the RMIT Design Hub in Melbourne, Australia. For those who can't make it, like myself, we'll just have to watch this video.
 

Bubi Canal: Special Moment

This past Wednesday evening, recently relocated, Spanish multimedia artist, Bubi Canal had the reception for his opening solo show at Munch Gallery. Canal's work is a combination of video art, photography, and product design. Canal's new show juxtaposes child-like primary colored objects and costumes against beautiful landscapes and scenery in a short film and a series of photographs. Check out Canal's show Special Moment now until March 10th at the Munch Gallery.
  

A Fire in My Belly

"On Dec 1, 2010, a short video excerpt of "A Fire In My Belly" by David Wojnarowicz was pulled from the Hide/Seek exhibit at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery due to pressure from Republican lawmakers threatening the Smithsonian's funding."

Thanks to VandM.com, the Estate of David Wojnarowicz, and P.P.O.W Gallery the video, so scandalous some Republicans couldn't handle it, is available for us to watch from the comfort of our home. Here's the full silent 13 minute video featuring cockfighting, masturbation, bull fighting, fire blowers, wrestlers, and Mexican cripples. So you might not want to watch this at work or infront of the elderly.  

Discovered via Confessions of a Boy Toy

Interview: Meghan Howland

When I first saw painter Meghan Howland's work I immediately started asking questions. Howland seems to capture a moment in a greater story, through her depiction of austere and distant subjects to the atmospheric quality of her painting style. Her work pulls you in and make you want to know more.
Luckily the artist agreed to do a brief interview with me to give us some insight into who she is and her motives and inspiration behind her work.

Where are you from? 
I was born in Massachusetts, but actually grew up in New Hampshire. It was a very rural, foggy place. Definitely a fun place to explore as a kid/draw a lot inside for want of things to do.


Where are you now?

I live in Portland, Maine. I like the energy here, and the people. It's not so hectic like New York City... its calmer, but everyone is doing things and making things. There's a really awesome art scene here and the music scene is amazing. It's also pretty great living two blocks from the ocean. 

What inspires your work?

Oh, all sorts of things. Most of the paintings are of people or objects that are around me constantly. They are definitely personal artworks that take on a sort of documenting of my life at the time. But I like infusing them with a certain mood in mind. I don't think I set out to announce any sort of direct clear message. I think the important thing about my art to me is it's way of communicating without so many words or explanations. There is a power in that. 

What is your medium of choice and how does it inform your work?

I like oils. They can be so gleaming and clear and thick but also mucky and thin if you want them to be. It's definitely this thrill of adding and taking away and sometimes doing something by accident that is exactly just right sometimes. Its easier for me to let go of overworking/overthinking something because of it's messy qualities. I mean, there are definitely some paintings in my studio that will probably never see the light of day because of this, but they were all part of the process. Maybe I'll pick them up again once the answer hits me, or maybe not. There are some things I've made in a week, others have taken years to be finished.

Your paintings seem to capture a moment in a larger story. Do you create or base your work after some type of narrative?

I guess if that were true it would probably be one of my own life and the people in it. Everything is pretty personal as I said, but I think the things they capture tend to be pretty universal. I do try to tap into that balance.

Could you discuss some of the repeating motifs in your work i.e. Birds, the hidden or obstructed face, etc.?

Well, I definitely wasn't thinking about Hitchcock when I started them... The bird paintings aren't really about birds, per say. They are more about the tension they create alongside the unmoving, unfazed portrait. It's kind of an impossible thing when you think about it, I feel like it's more natural for people to react. I used them at first because they represent things to me personally, a sort of mascot for that time period. I wanted the birds to feel like more of a perplexing embrace to this person, rather than a violent attack. The moments that I choose to paint are really as much about what you show and explain as it is about what you don't show and explain. It ignites imagination... which is far more powerful than being told any one story. It could even take away from said awesome moment.

What do you want your viewers to take away from seeing your paintings?

I think it's just a connecting with people thing. Whether they feel an empathy toward the subject or its mood or if its negative and scary or beautiful, is really for them to decide, not me. For me I am just trying to get something out that feels urgent and important for me to do so.

Do you have any new projects or shows coming up?

I do! I have a show this weekend actually at the Rochester Museum of Fine Art. I'm pretty excited for it. I've started painting some figurative works, one a pretty massive painting in my studio, but that wont be shown until this summer, in both Provincetown and Brooklyn.

Where can we see/purchase your work? 

I keep my website updated for exhibition information etc - www.meghanhowland.com

To inquire about purchasing a work you can contact either myself via email or Bowersock Gallery at 508.487.4994

Or you can come knock on my studio window at 131 Washington and we can geek out about painting together.

Frida

Photographer, Luis Carlos Aguayo created this series of images inspired by Frida Kahlo and her work. Models, Gianluca di Sotto, Pol Gerez, and Roger Balduino are clothed by designer Tom Rebl and are styled with Mexican textiles, unibrows, and floral head pieces.
See more shots from the photo story after the break and check out the behind the scenes video below.

Sophia Sophia

I love my friend Sophia Sophia and so does my friend Sophia. I met her several years ago when we were in art school at Pratt Institute. At the time her focus was on jewelry and metal work, since then her work has evolved to a multitude of mediums. One thing that hasn't changed is her focus on handcraft.

In her latest series of work Sophia creates dolls that function as real life avatars. These tangible handcrafted doppelgangers are her way of commenting on "the loneliness of artificial human connections created through the Internet" and "this era of self-obsession." 

In these photographs, taken by Steven Gorgos, the artist is captured wearing herself, presenting her avatar the way she wishes to be perceived along with her actual self. In the words of the artist "the more of myself, the better." 

Brook & Lyn

I've been on a search for a piece of art for this one wall in my living room since I moved into my apartment in June. The space demands for something big and full of texture. I haven't had any luck finding a piece that's right for the space. Nothing seems to be large enough and still affordable for my current budget. There's plenty of $10,000 plus pieces that are perfect, with the exception of the price tag.
When I first saw these woven wall hanging from Brook&Lyn I thought these would be perfect! With one important exception, they are way too small! I'm now thing I have to make one myself. I've seen so many of these hanging in friends parents homes growing up and they kind of creeped me out. However, these are modern and fashionable, nothing creep about them! I think I have a new project to work on now.  

Raneytown

This summer I had the pleasure of meeting Rebeca Raney at Alder New York's studio. She came to talk to us about what we did at Alder and how our process worked for her blog Raneytown. It was great meeting Rebeca, a creative multimedia artist who, at the time, was beginning to prep for her solo show to open during Art Basel. If you are in Miami, today's your last chance to get a look at Rebeca's colorful creations. Otherwise, you are going to just have to watch this video of Rebeca gives a "rhythmic tour" of Raneytown at Primary Projects.

A is for Atomic, B is for Blow, C is for Camel Toe...

Learning Mark Mcginnis' ABC's is no kids play! I recently had the pleasure of meeting the Brooklyn-based artist responsible for the series of very adult alphabet prints. My personal favorites include H is for Homo and M is for Merkin. Mcginnis also has some hunky wrapping papper, Wishing You a Very Hairy Christmas and Chest, Nuts, and Fire, both prefect for next years holiday gifts. See more of his work at MisterMcginnis.com.

Uncle Grumpy

It's been quite a while since I've posted. The past few weeks have kept me extremely busy working 7 days a weeks with 12+ hour days. But It has come to an end and hopefully I won't have to work like that again, or at least not until next season.
Some how between working and sleeping I discovered an artist called Uncle Grumpy. Grumpy's work is obvious queer to say the least. But that has little to do with what draws me to his illustrations. There is a quality to the distortion of his figures, the yellowy tint of the paper, the gestural energy of the lines, and the transparency of the colors that feel familiar. Like illustrations from childhood books. I can't nail down the reference, but I want to say I know this already. I thought maybe they feel like Andy Warhol's early illustrations of cats and shoes, but that's not it. Whatever it is, I like it!
See more of Uncle Grumpy's work here and his inspiration here, Warning, it can get a little 'x' rated, so this isn't the best thing to check out at work. Also check out my Tumblr, here, for my inspiration.

Man Pillows!

Just in time for the holidays, Man Pillows! Available in 3 sizes with or without a pillow insert, starting at $20, now at my Society6 page!